I have this upper and I'm not sure the maker.  I saw a post about the H&R uppers and the rear flash on the back.  Is this an H&R?  If not, anyone know the maker?

Is that a big "1" in the area where the Colt proofs would be if it was indeed Colt, which it isn't.

is there a number in a circle on the underside of the forward assist?

No, no markings that I see.

ok the forward assist may have been changed out.  the front lug looks rebated, did h&r rebate their lugs or did they come in both flavors?

Hello cplstevennorton.  There have been a few upper receivers that have shown up with large numbers stamped in the sides like yours, I had one and it was bead blasted and refinished with Norrells.  (Mine was stamped with a "1" and a "G" on the other side if I remember correctly)  I don't think those large markings were applied at the factory.  I'm guessing if uppers like these were original finish we would see some aluminum where the numbers were stamped but I have never tried it myself.  

It is hard to tell from your picture, but does the ark transition from the front face of the receiver to the carry handle valley have what looks like belt sander marks running from side to side like this one?



The shape of the forging contours, the "R", and arrow all look like what I think is an earlier GM forging.  If you look at the tacked GM / H&R thread there are more examples of parts we have good reason to believe are from GM rifles than we do for H&R rifles so I think we are less sure what an original H&R upper is.  It might be worth putting some good paint stripper on that and see what comes off, I have had good results with this brand (I can't vouch for the seller, I found this in a web search)

http://www.tcpglobal.com/KLE-GAR343_2.html?gclid=CJqNw4Oyt8ACFQiDfgod8QwACA

Mine looks like this one and has the rebate.